Genesis Health Club to come to McPherson

Genesis Health Club has announced it will open a new facility in the former Kyle’s Discount building, 601 N. Main St.

By Cristina JanneyManaging Editor

Genesis Health Club has announced it will open a new facility in the former Kyle’s Discount building, 601 N. Main St.
Genesis took over the McPherson Athletic Club, 135 N. Main St., as of today.
The company plans to spend $2 million to gut and renovate the Kyle’s building inside and out.
Kyle’s closed for business as of last Saturday. Construction on the new facility is scheduled to begin within 60 days. The health club will open in phases starting in spring, owner Rodney Steven II said.
“I’m excited to bring Genesis Health Club to McPherson and look forward to working with the community and building them a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility,” he said.
The new facility will include several amenities, including two group fitness studios. Group fitness classes are an essential element in all of the Genesis Health Clubs, a news release said. Classes are taught by certified instructors.
Steven described the locker room facilities as luxurious, where members will enjoy towel and locker service, as well as be provided toiletries (lotions, soaps, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant and hair spray).
The new facility will all house at least three tenants, two of which will include a tanning salon and a supplement store.
Individual memberships will cost about $40 per month with varying packages available.
Hours will be from 5 through Thursdays, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.
McPherson Athletic Club members will have access to Genesis immediately, and their memberships also will allow them to workout at several other Genesis Health Club locations around the state. Genesis Health Clubs offers 11 locations in Kansas — five in Wichita, and one each in Hutchinson, Salina, Emporia, Lawrence, Leavenworth and now McPherson.
How the arrival of Genesis in the community will affect other fitness centers is yet to be known. Besides McPherson Athletic Club, McPherson has three other full service fitness centers, CT Fit, McPherson Family YMCA and Hess Fitness Center at McPherson Hospital.
Steven said Genesis would not be opening a facility in McPherson if it did not think it could create a customer base in the community.
“Everybody needs to exercise,” he said. “We all live in such a fast-paced world. We want to make exercise more convenient and make facilities that are luxurious with amenities like steam rooms. We want everyone working out, and we think the market is big enough for Genesis.”
Chuck Vetter, who owns CT Fit with his wife, Taryn, said he was unsure if McPherson had a large enough population to sustain a club the size of Genesis.
The Vetters are long-time residents and live downtown near their business. He said he and his family are in McPherson to stay.
“We have got to be concerned, but we do have a niche and our clientele is different. I don’t think they will drive us out of business, but I think it will affect our growth,” he said.
“We are not going to go anywhere. We’ll be in business. Our roots are too deep.”
Gwyn Muto, McPherson YMCA CEO, said the YMCA serves a different mission than a for-profit fitness center.
The YMCA accepts all resident regardless of ability to pay by providing scholarships to low-income families and individuals.
The YMCA offers a free Learn to Swim program for second-graders in the community and the Y-Kids after school program. The organization receives United Way funds and fundraises in addition to charging a membership fee to members of the community who can afford to pay.
“We have other competition in the community. We will see what happens. I hope the community will continue to support the Y. We have been in the community for more than 100 years,” Muto said. “The only reason we are here is because the community has provided its support and loyalty. We are here to provide service to the community, and we don’t deny anyone service. We are about spirit, mind and body.”
Kyle Robinson, owner of Kyle’s Discount, said he will be staying in McPherson and is going into semi-retirement. However, he said he has not ruled out reopening his business on a smaller scale.